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Gunner Olszewski

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Gunner Olszewski
refer to caption
Olszewski with the Bemidji State Beavers in 2017
No. 80 – New York Giants
Position:Wide receiver
Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1996-11-26) November 26, 1996 (age 28)
Alvin, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Alvin
College:Bemidji State (2015–2018)
Undrafted:2019
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:15
Receiving yards:180
Rushing yards:71
Return yards:2,074
Total touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kaleb Gunner Olszewski[1] (/oʊˈʃɛski/ oh-SHESS-kee)[2] (born November 26, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Bemidji State as a cornerback. He previously played for the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Early life

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Olszewski was born in Alvin, Texas, to Eric and Collette Olszewski. He graduated from Alvin High School, where he played football, where he set school records for tackles and interceptions,[3] and baseball;[4] He has two brothers: one older and one younger.

College career

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Olszewski played for the Bemidji State University Beavers in Bemidji, Minnesota, a Division II school, as a cornerback.[5] In his 2015 freshman season, Olszewski was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Newcomer of the Year. Olszewski won Defensive Player of the Year in the NSIC as a senior in 2018.[6] He also returned punts and held for field goals and extra points.[1]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 9+5⁄8 in
(1.77 m) 		178 lb
(81 kg) 		29+1⁄8 in
(0.74 m) 		8+1⁄2 in
(0.22 m)		 4.56 s 1.59 s 2.60 s 4.37 s 6.88 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)
All values from Pro Day[7]

New England Patriots

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2019 season

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Olszewski was not selected in the 2019 NFL draft. After the draft, he was invited to participate in rookie minicamps by the Minnesota Vikings, who used him at cornerback,[8] and the New England Patriots, who used him at wide receiver.[9] On May 23, 2019, after the retirement of Jared Veldheer gave the Patriots a roster opening, they signed Olszewski to an undrafted free agent contract.[10] The three-year deal had a $2,500 signing bonus.[11]

On August 31, the day that teams were required to trim their preseason 90-man rosters to 53-man rosters, the Patriots told Olszewski that morning that he would be waived; instead, the Patriots kept him after trading cornerback Keion Crossen less than an hour before the deadline.[12]

He made his NFL debut in the Patriots' 33–3 Week 1 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, returning two punts for 35 yards (averaging 17.5 yards per return).[13] He recorded his first receptions in Week 6 against the New York Giants; targeted three times, he had two receptions, for five and 29 yards.[14] He was placed on injured reserve on November 19, 2019, with ankle and hamstring injuries.[15]

2020 season

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On September 12, 2020, Olszewski was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.[16] He was activated on October 5, 2020, before the team's Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum stay on IR for the 2020 season was reduced to three games.[17]

In Week 12, against the Arizona Cardinals, Olszewski returned a punt 82 yards to the end zone, but it was called back because of an illegal block by linebacker Anfernee Jennings; after the penalty, it was recorded as a 58-yard return.[18] A week later, against the Los Angeles Chargers, Olszewski had three punt returns totaling 145 yards. His first went for 70 yards and was the first touchdown of his career; he followed it up with returns of 14 and 61 yards. He also added the first receiving touchdown of his career in the fourth quarter, catching a 38-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in garbage time during the Patriots' 45–0 shutout.[18] Olszewski was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 13.[19] He finished the season with a league-high 346 punt return yards on 20 returns. His average of 17.3 yards per return was a franchise record and the second-highest total since the AFL-NFL merger (after Leodis McKelvin's 18.7 yards per return in 2012).[20]

In January 2021 Olszewski was named to the 2020 AP All-Pro first team as a punt returner. He is the first Patriots punt returner so honored.[21] He received 28 of 50 votes at punt returner, as well as one vote for special teamer.[22] One voter, Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders, noted that Olszewski's punt returns had twice the value of any other punt returner.[23]

2021 season

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Through 9 games, Olszewski ranked second in punt return yards, with 248 yards on 18 returns. In his second game in SoFi Stadium against the Chargers, Olszewski had four returns for 80 yards, with three returns of 20+ yards, a feat last accomplished by a Patriot in 2000 (Troy Brown).[24]

Pittsburgh Steelers

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2022 season

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Olszewski catching a pass during a Steelers practice in 2023

On March 21, 2022, Olszewski signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[25] Olszewski primarily played on the Steelers' special teams unit and saw limited playing time as a receiver. He finished the 2022 season having caught five passes on seven targets for 53 yards.[26]

2023 season

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Olszewski would make his only catch of the 2023 season with the Steelers during Week 2's divisional matchup against the Cleveland Browns. He would then fumble the catch, causing the Steelers to lose possession.[27] During this same game, Olszewski went in as the team's kick returner. After a Cleveland field goal, he caught the Browns' kickoff at the Steelers' nine yard line near the sideline and toe tapped in bounds before leaving the field of play, positioning the Steelers deep in their own territory.[28] Had Olszewski not made the catch and let the ball bounce out of bounds on its own, the Steelers would've automatically been placed at their 40 yard line as NFL rules dictate a kickoff out of bounds is an immediate touchback with a 15 yard penalty.[29]

He was released on October 21, 2023.[30]

New York Giants

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2023 season

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On October 23, 2023, the New York Giants signed Olszewski to their practice squad, and promoted to the active roster five days later.[31][32] In Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams, Olszewski returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown. At first it was reported that he had broken the club record set by Amani Toomer.[33] However, research revealed that the record of 95 yards set by Al Bloodgood on September 30, 1928 still stands.[34]

2024 season

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On March 11, 2024, Olszewski re-signed with the Giants.[35] He suffered a groin injury before Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve on September 14.[36]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Bold Career best

Regular season

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Year Team Games Receiving Rushing KO/Punt Returns Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Y/R Lng TD Att Yds Y/A Lng TD Ret Yds Y/R Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 NE 8 0 2 34 17.0 29 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 20 179 9.0 22 0 1 1
2020 NE 13 2 5 62 12.4 38 1 5 23 4.6 12 0 38 764[a] 20.1[b] 70 1[c] 1 0
2021 NE 16 0 2 31 15.5 22 0 1 9 9.0 9 0 44 725 16.5 37 0 3 1
2022 PIT 16 2 5 53 10.6 31 0 8 39 4.9 18 0 11 101 9.2 27 0 2 1
2023 PIT 2 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 32 10.7 24 0 2 2
NYG 9 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 20 244 12.2 94 1 2 1
Career 64 4 15 180 12.0 38 1 14 71 5.1 18 0 137 2,296 16.8 94 2 11 6

Postseason

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Year Team Games Returning Fumbles
GP GS Ret Yds Y/R Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 NE 0 0 Did not play due to injury
2021 NE 1 0 5 103 20.6 26 0 0 0
Career 1 0 5 103 20.6 26 0 0 0

Notes

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  1. ^ Led the league in punts return yardage (346).[37]
  2. ^ Led the league in yards per punt return (17.3).[37]
  3. ^ Led the league in punts returned for touchdown (1).[37]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hittinger, Jack (October 21, 2015). "BSU's Young Gun: True freshman cornerback Gunner Olszewski finding his place at Bemidji State". The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Pronunciation Guide – Patriots". Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  3. ^ "His Best Shot: Once Overlooked, Gunner Olszewski Now Aims High". www.patriots.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. ^ Collins, Stephen. "That's Just Gunner: Former Alvin coach thrilled to see Olszewski make Super Bowl champs' roster". The Alvin Sun-Advertiser. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "2015 ROSTER". Bemidji State Athletics.
  6. ^ Callahan, Andrew (June 6, 2019). "Gunner Olszewski, the New England Patriots' greatest underdog in years, is taking his shot". masslive.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "Gunner Olszewski, Bemidji State, FS, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Daniels, Mark (June 15, 2019). "An unlikely break changed Olszewski's future". Providence Journal. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  9. ^ McBride, Jim (June 5, 2019). "A former college DB, Gunner Olszewski aims for greatness as a pro WR". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  10. ^ Houde, Isaiah (June 6, 2019). "Gunner Olszewski is making a name for himself in New England". USA Today. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  11. ^ Clements, Devon (May 29, 2019). "Report: Gunner Olszewski receives rookie minimum deal from Patriots". Patriots Wire. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  12. ^ Callahan, Andrew (August 31, 2019). "Report: Patriots rookie WR Gunner Olszewski makes roster after being told he would be released". masslive.com. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  13. ^ Cox, Zack (September 9, 2019). "Patriots' Gunner Olszewski Flashes Punt-Return Potential In NFL Debut Vs. Steelers". NESN.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  14. ^ McGuire, Sean T. (October 11, 2019). "Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski step up for Patriots with injured receiving corps". Patriots Wire. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  15. ^ "Patriots activate OL Isaiah Wynn; Place WR Gunner Olszewski on IR". Patriots.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Patriots make a series of transactions". Patriots.com. September 12, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  17. ^ Cox, Zack (October 5, 2020). "Patriots Activate Damien Harris, Gunner Olszewski; Place Sony Michel On IR". NESN.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Daniels, Mark (December 6, 2020). "Patriots Gunner Olszewski turns into unlikely hero in Los Angeles". The Providence Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  19. ^ Gordon, Grant (December 9, 2020). "Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Bills QB Josh Allen lead Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  20. ^ "Patriots' Gunner Olszewski Had One Of Best Seasons Ever By Punt Returner". NESN.com. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  21. ^ Hartwell, Darren (January 8, 2021). "How Jake Bailey, Gunner Olszewski made Patriots history with All-Pro honors". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "2020 NFL All-Pro Team Voting". AP NEWS. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  23. ^ "2020 All-Pro Team Announced | Football Outsiders". www.footballoutsiders.com. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  24. ^ Fairburn, Matthew (November 2, 2021). "Matthew Judon is exactly what Patriots needed: 15 thoughts on win over Chargers". The Athletic. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  25. ^ Varley, Teresa (March 21, 2022). "Olszewski signed to two-year contract". Steelers.com. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  26. ^ https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/gunner-olszewski-28080/game-log?seasonYear=2022
  27. ^ https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/gunner-olszewski-28080/game-log?seasonYear=2023
  28. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLRG9j6EOWs
  29. ^ Taddeo, Frankie (September 19, 2023). "NFL Fans Roasted Steelers' Gunner Olszewski for Mind-Boggling Move on Kickoff". SI.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  30. ^ Varley, Teresa (October 21, 2023). "Steelers activate Johnson, make other moves". Steelers.com. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  31. ^ Salomone, Dan (October 23, 2023). "Giants sign All-Pro returner Gunner Olszewski to practice squad". Giants.com. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  32. ^ Salomone, Dan (October 28, 2023). "Giants sign WR Gunner Olszewski to active roster; RB Gary Brightwell to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  33. ^ Werner, Barry. "Giants' Gunner Olszewski returns punt 94 yards for spectacular touchdown". Touchdown Wire. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  34. ^ "New York Giants at Pottsville Maroons - September 30th, 1928". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  35. ^ Citak, Matt (March 11, 2024). "Reports: Giants agree to terms with WR/PR Gunner Olszewski". Giants.com.
  36. ^ Valentine, Ed (September 14, 2024). "Giants roster moves: Gunner Olszewski to injured reserve". Big Blue View. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  37. ^ a b c "Gunner Olszewski stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
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